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Dear Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Community:
As we prepare to celebrate the accomplishments of our graduates and the outstanding milestones of this academic year, I want to take a moment to reflect on the current public policy environment and Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ’s place in this landscape. Our nation’s institutions of education are critical to our economic and social vitality, national security, and democracy. The Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ community has come together to respond to the crises of the current moment guided by a mission that embraces freedom of thought and inquiry, a commitment to public service and the public good, and a focus on empowering lives of purpose and leadership. On behalf of our university, our nation, and future generations, we will continue to articulate and defend our core mission and principles in the face of today’s significant challenges.  Â
Our community is a place where students, faculty, and staff can pursue their big dreams safely and without fear. We will continue to protect freedom of expression and academic freedom while reinforcing the rights and responsibilities we share in this learning environment. In a society in which our diverse human capital is our greatest strategic resource, we also recognize that we become stronger as we become more welcoming and inclusive for individuals of all backgrounds. We will not back away from our dedication to inclusive excellence because we know it enhances the learning environment for everyone.Â
These commitments translate into action in a variety of ways. For example, we are working with national higher education coalitions such as the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U, where I currently serve as board chair) to build alliances advocating for the preservation of academic freedom, inclusive excellence, and robust support for public-impact research that improves the lives of people all over the nation and world. Today, we signed onto an with more than 150 colleges, universities, and scholarly societies calling for constructive engagement in response to the government intrusion in higher education.
Closer to home, we are deploying resources that provide support and guidance to students, faculty and staff. As I reflected in my March 26 message about federal policy activity, I strongly believe that statements must be accompanied by actions. In recent weeks, several working groups have been established to engage deeply and advise on critical federal policy issues. An enhanced website is providing regular updates on this work and a space where all members of our community can access information, provide input, and ask questions. Starting April 23, the weekly Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Now newsletter will share the latest information, and the attached summary includes work happening across these issues. We are solutions-driven and want to continue hearing from you about working together on these complex issues.
We know our future forward involves all of us contributing, engaging, and supporting one another. I have appreciated recent opportunities to hear directly from members of our community, including gatherings at which I hosted international graduate students and the Humphrey Fellows (a Fulbright Exchange program at the Washington College of Law) to hear their hopes and concerns. Additionally, The Civic Life initiative and our focus on civil discourse across differences, problem-solving and seeking common ground, and innovation and creativity are an effective response to the policy debates and challenges swirling around us. We will continue to look for constructive spaces for dialogue, active listening, and action within our community in the days to come.
As I said in my inaugural address, Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ is in the right place at the right time. The challenges associated with federal policy actions will be with us for the foreseeable future. By grounding our efforts in our mission and values and by working together, we are strongly positioned to answer these questions and engage in continuous improvement for the benefit of our entire community.
Sincerely,
Jonathan AlgerÂ
President